Car-axle box



(No Model.)

W. S. SHARPNEGK.

GAR AXLE BOX.

No. 386,899. Patented July 31, 1888.

H Q llw ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM S. SHARPNECK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 886,899, dated July 31,1888 Application filed Septembci 29, 1887.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.

Beitknown that I, \VILLIAM S. SHARPNECK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes, ofwhich thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing, which represents a side elevation of myimprovement with parts broken away'and parts in section.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements injournal-boxes; and it has for its object to obtain a great length ofrolls and consequently a much greater bearing-surface, whereby therollers are prevented from rubbing together when under the load.

The great ditficulty with roller-boxes has always been to find somesimple appliance that would hold the rolls apart and prevent reversemotion and at the same time hold them parallel with the axle. I havefound from practice that the latter trouble is much the greater point toovercome; in fact it cannot be accomplished with short rolls; but bymaking the rolls nearly as long as the axle and filling the space aroundthe axle with these long rolls this difficulty is overcome; and it ispractically impossible for one end of the rolls to get behind the otheror for the rolls to rub to gether when under the load, especially whenthe load is on top of the axle, for the following reasons: As soon asone roll is relieved of the load,it drops down of its own gravity ontothe side of the rolls lying in the bottom of the box and crowds the oneon the opposite side of the axle up till it is caught by the axle nnderthe load, when it bounds forward a little, leaving a slight spacebetween it and the next roll. I thus obviate entirely the reverse motionof one roll against the other while under the load.

The invention consists in the peculiar combinations and the novelconstruction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, all as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which Adesignates an axle, and B the car-wheels, of any approved construction.

Serial No. 25!,048. (Ne model.)

C is a box or case, constructed, preferably, of two like parts, eachprovided with flanges 0, through which suitable securing means-as thebolts apass, to hold the two parts together. The space around the axlewithin this case is filled with the rolls D, extending the whole lengththereof. At each end of the box, upon the inner side thereof, I form anannular groove, 1), in which is placed a hard ened-steel washer, E, totake the wear off the ends of the rolls, the ends of the rolls for twoor three inches being made as hard as tire and water will make them.This box 0, I prefer to make in two parts, so that it can be applied toor be taken off the axle without removing the wheels; but it is evidentthat its construction may be varied in numerous ways without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

F is a casting to which the truckframeand springs are designed to besecurely fastened.

G are eyes at each end of the casting, and preferably formed integraltherewith. These eyes receive the axle, as shown in the drawing, andupon their outer faces are formed with an annular groove, 9, in whichwork freely the balls H, which, coming in contact with the inner surfaceof the wheel-hub, prevent too much lateral motion of the axle.

Instead of forming the eyes G integral with the casting, I may sometimesform a half of each eye separate therefrom and bolt it thereto, so thatthe casting may be removed or put on,when desi red,with0ut removing thewheels.

I are transverse rolls arranged between the casting and the top of thecase or box to allow the box and axle to work freely under the load. Thecasting is sometimes formed with adepending flange, f, and the case witha flange, i, to guide the rollers, as shown in the drawing.

K is :1. lug, formed integral with the casting F at the center of itslength and extending down to the side of the case. To the upper half ofthe case are cast or rigidly secured the lugs L, which extend down oneupon each side of the lug K, and M are spiral springs arranged, asshown, one upon each side of the lug K and between said lug and the lugsL. These springs serve to hold the box or case containing the rolls D inthe center of the axle. The object of these springs and the transverserolls I is to allow the box or case and the rolls D to go with the axleendwise without the axle slipping endwise through the rolls.

What I claim as new is 1. The combination, with the axle, thesurrounding case formed with ends embracing the axle, and the long rollstherein around said axle, of a hardened-steel washer within said casebetween the'ends of said case and the ends of the roll to take theend-thrust of the rolls, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the axle and the endwise-movable case carryingthe long rolls and surrounding the axle, of the casting likewise movableon said axle and designed to support the load, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination, with the axle, the surrounding case, and the longrolls, of the casting and the transverse rolls arranged between saidcase and casting, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The eombinatiomwith the axle and wheels, of the casting designed tosupport the load, and provided with eyes surrounding the axle, and theballs arranged between said eyes and the inner faces of the wheels,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, with the axle, the surrounding case and the longrolls, of the casting 30 designed to support the load, and springsarcase and casting, and the balls H, all substan- 5 tially as and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature, in presence of twowitnessesthis 14th day of September, 1887.

\VILLIAM S. SHARPNEOK. \Vitnessesi W. W. DEXTER, HUGO W. C. 1VIARTIN.

